title: IgG4-related Mikulicz's disease: ultrasonography of the salivary and lacrimal glands for monitoring the efficacy of corticosteroid therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  IgG4-related Mikulicz's disease (IgG4-MD) has been recently established as a subtype of IgG4-related diseases involving the salivary and lacrimal glands, and the diseased glands are characteristically and highly responsive to corticosteroid therapy. We retrospectively evaluated ultrasonography (US) of the salivary and lacrimal glands for monitoring the efficacy of corticosteroid treatment in patients with IgG4-MD.
  
  
  METHODS
  US features of the salivary and lacrimal glands were assessed and compared with the serum IgG4 levels in 8 patients with IgG4-MD before and at various stages after initiation of oral corticosteroids.
  
  
  RESULTS
  US features of the lacrimal and salivary glands of patients with IgG4-MD were characterised by multiple hypoechoic areas in enlarged glands. The submandibular glands were most frequently involved by the disease, and bilateral glands of the same type were similarly affected exhibiting the same hypoechoic pattern. Alleviations of abnormal gland architecture and size in response to corticosteroid therapy were effectively detected with US. The US findings of the involved glands were proportional to the serum IgG4 level before and during the corticosteroid therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  US helps monitor the efficacy of corticosteroid treatment in patients with IgG4-MD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Cancer Biology, Nagasaki University School of Dentistry, Nagasaki, Japan. yuki@nagasaki-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Yukinori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takagi
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Tomoki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Origuchi
authors.forename: Taiichiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyashita
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kawakami
authors.forename: Misa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sumi
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakamura
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000187:drug effects*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008882:Mikulicz' Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D007074:Immunoglobulin G